HC Deb 16 April 1996 vol 275 c504
12. Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new proposals he has to reduce deaths caused by medicinal drugs. [23475]

Mr. Malone

We already have in place well-established systems for licensing and monitoring the safety of all medicines available in the United Kingdom, which ensure that the benefits of medicines outweigh any risks and prevent users from coming to unnecessary harm. Those systems continue to be developed, in particular to take advantage of advances in drug development.

Mr. Flynn

Why, then, if present trends continue, will more people be killed by medicines than by road traffic accidents? The greatest killer of all is paracetamol, which is available from supermarkets, garages and other shops. Will the Minister take steps to reduce the number of deaths—currently 200 a year—by confining the sale of paracetamol to pharmacists, improving labelling and encouraging the use of safe, protective forms of paracetamol?

Mr. Malone

I am aware of the report that my Department is currently considering, which deals with the implications of the number of tablets contained in a packet. I know that the hon. Gentleman takes a close interest in the matter; we shall consider it, and report in due course.

As for the hon. Gentleman's general point, according to yellow card reports relating to all cases in which paracetamol is a suspect drug, between 1990 and 1995 the figure fell from 65 to 49. The hon. Gentleman must see the position in context. I hope that we shall soon be able to produce more up-to-date and robust figures, and I shall ensure that they are brought to his attention.

Mr. John Marshall

Has my hon. Friend tried to work out how the position would be affected by the abolition of prescription charges, which would deprive the national health service of substantial resources and prevent hip replacement and other operations from being carried out?

Mr. Malone

I had not made the association made by my hon. Friend, but the consequences would be as he suggests.